Loose-leaf binder



Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UiE STATES LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Elmore C. MacGlashan,San Francisco, Calif., as-

signor to Frederic E. Irwin, San Francisco,

Calif.

v Application December 12, 1938, Serial No. 245,179

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in loose-leaf binders.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide an expansive binder forthe addition of extra leaves and for subject matter pasted on theleaves, as in a scrap book or album.

Another object is to provide a binder that will open and lie flat up tothe capacity of the binder.

Another object is to so design and construct the binder that it isadapted to the use of natural wood boards in its structure withoutinjury to any highly finished surface upon which the binder may rest.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

In the present disclosure the invention is adapted to the use ofornamental woods and leather in its composition. But it is to beunderstood that it is not limited to this form, because it may beembodied in modifications within the purview of the claims following thedescription.

In the one sheet of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of the inside of the binder with thesides extended, with leaves omitted.

Fig. 2 is a similar view from the outside of the binder.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail, about full size, of the same in crosssection with the leaves included, taken on the line IIIIII, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail end view of the binder in the extended closedposition.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the same in the contracted closed position.

In detail, the construction comprises the back A and the sides B and C,bound together by a thong D, with their meeting edges in close contact.

The back A, preferably of wood or any stiif rigid material, has the endnotches I and 2 about the width of the thong D and the side notches 3,4, 5 and 6 that are double the Width of the thong. The holes I and 8 arealined with their respective alined notches 3, 4 and 5, 6.

The two side boards have the edge notches 9, II], II, and I2 registeringwith the similar notches in the back A, respectively. The holes I3, It,I5, and It in the sides B and C line with their respective holes "I and8 in the back A. It is desirable that the meeting edges between theboards B, C and the back A be rounded so that they will roll in closecontact during the swing of the boards in opening and closing thebinder,

maintaining the thong hinges under tension at all times.

The thong D is preferably prestretchedchrome tanned leather, raw hide,or any suitable material consistent with the desired artistic effect. 5

The thong D is reeved through the several notches and holessubstantially as follows: For convenience the back and sides A, B, C canbe set up in a jig in bent backward relation. The central portion orbight ll of the thong is laid along the inside plane of the back A, seeFig. 1, with the end lengths extending outward through the end notches land 2. The thong en-d I8 Is then passed over the back A and inwardlythrough the hole 'I and laterally at l9, to the right, in Fig. 1;outwardly through the notches 4-40, inwardly through the hole I4, andlaterally at 29, to the left in Fig. 1; through the notches 4-46; acrossthe width of the back at 2!, see Fig. 2; inwardly through the notches 39at 22; out through the hole I3; up through the notches 39 at 23; inthrough the hole. I and along the outer plane of the back A, at 24, seeFig. 2.

The opposite end of the thong is bent out-.

wardly over the end notch 2; in through the hole 8 and to the right at25, Fig. 1; out through the notches 6-42; across at 2B, in through thehole I6, Fig. 1, and to the left at 21, Fig. 1; out through the notches6I2; across the back at 28, Fig, 2; in through the notches 5II at 29;out through the hole l5; to the left at 30, Fig. 2; to the right at 3 I,Fig. 1; out through the hole 8 and along the back at 32, Fig. 2.

The opposite ends 24, 32 are then pulled taut, to take up all slack inthe thong reevings, then tied in a non-slip knot at 33.

It will be noted, particularly in Fig. 3, that the thong forms a figure8 hinge joint between the back A and the attached boards B, C, at theopposite edges of the back respectively, with a rolling contact betweenthe rounded edges as the boards swing with respect to the back, as inFigs. 4,5. The cross linkage of the thong within the registeringnotches, Fig. 3, allows a slipping relative movement of these contactingedges between A, B, and C, to permit the expansive capacity indicated inFigs. 4, 5.

The folio of leaves shown in Fig. 3 has its center fold slipped underthe bight ll of the thong D to secure it to the binder. The thong iselastic enough to permit extra leaves being inserted up to the capacityof the binder. Or the capacity of the bight I! can be increased byslipping and re-tying the knot 33. The folio of leaves could be securedwithin the binder by means other than the bight I! if preferable.

The exposed thong D and the knot 33 also act as buffers when the binderrests upon a highly finished surface.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A binder including a back, and a pair of side boards with registeringnotches in their meeting edges, and holes therethrough alined with saidnotches; and a thong reeved through said holes and crossed on itselfwithin said notches.

2. A binder including a back, and a pair of side boards with registeringnotches in their meeting edges, and holes therethrough alined with saidnotches; and a thong extending over the ends of said back and reevedthrough said holes and notches forming substantially figure eight (8)shaped hinges between said back and boards, the ends of said thong beingknotted together at said back.

3. A binder including a back having rounded edges with notches therein;a pair of side boards having rounded edges with notches therein and injuxtaposition to the rounded edges of said back; and a taut thong crossreeved through holes in said back and side boards to form flexiblefigure eight (8) hinges in said registering notches and holding saidedges in rolling contact with each other respectively.

ELMORE C. MACGLASHAN.

